Searching For The Lord

             Living on the East Coast, finding an area without artificial night light can be next to impossible.  Yet, having the ability to view the star studded sky requires darkness and preferably pristine darkness.  Our street lights, car beams, buildings projecting light from windows, lights on top of tall towers, and pole lights to brighten highways and yards make viewing the depths of the terrestrial world challenging.  Some even call this “light pollution!”

While doing some research to view Mercury I became transfixed on the idea of how the planet Mercury would be easily missed if not actively searched for in the night time sky at just the right time of twilight.  It seems the light can be too bright, if the search is early or lost in the horizon if searched for too late.   There is only a ten to twenty minute time frame with which to pursue the sighting of this planet.

            I suggest our search for the Lord can be such an adventure.  If we don’t actively search for the Lord in our life through His Word we will miss the Light that would offer guidance in our life.  His Word is there on the shelf, on the seat beside us, on the table, in the drawer or other place nearby, “twinkling” ready to be used for all areas of our life, but we get so busy with life, we lose the time frame we’ve planned to spend with God.

            Unlike Mercury, God isn’t tricky, requiring a certain time of day to get a glimpse of Him.  He’s there, always steady, shining brightly for those who would choose to see.  We don’t need a telescope, a night sky, a specific separation from the sun or the right time of twilight.  He’s ready and willing to make himself clearly visible through a variety of means if we are actively searching for Him.

            I had a conversation with a young man recently who said he just didn’t understand.   He believes as a human he does not really have free will at all and feels God is biased in his love.  Further he believed God does not have any enemies so as humans how can we?  I tried to explain that God loves everyone and wants none to be lost, but those who choose to reject him then become enemies in the sense they choose to live life apart from him. 

There does come a time when the Lord cannot be found because we have hardened our hearts to Him.  He makes himself available and draws us to himself, but we can only say “no” so many times.  He will stop knocking and wooing.  But that is not what He wants.  The Lord wants us to call on him, repent of sin and allow Him to be Savior of our lives.  He has compassion on those who harken to His voice and wants to abundantly pardon.

So I challenge you, take a moment and look up at the vast, beautiful stars above you tonight.  God is the creator of every single one, and of each person who walks the earth, all that has come before and all that will ever come.  Do you hear him calling you?  He isn’t hiding; He’s not being tricky; He’s right next to you…waiting.  Waiting for you to call His name and welcome you into the Family of God.